Hose-coupling.



R. s. MAUBWAN.

HOSE coUPLING: APPLIUATION FILED APB.. 9, 1908.

Patented June 8, 1909.

ROBERT S. MACEWN, lOF TROY, NEW YORK.`

Hoen-COUPLING.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented .rune s, 1909.

Application filed April 9, 1908. Serial No. 426,028.

To all Iwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT S. MAoEwAN, a citizen of the United States,residing in Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hose-Couplings, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This improvement relates to steam hose couplings particularly adaptedfor connecting the steam hose between cars, the object of the inventionbeing to provide an improved coupling of this character so constructedand assembled that the couplings will readily pull apart on the breakageof the train without injury to either head of the coupling, but whichhose couplings will, when the cars are properly coupled up, beefficiently coupled together.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved means forholding the gasket in position, such means being so constructed that thegasket may be readily and quickly removed and yet effectively held inposition, and will also enable such gasket to automatically seat itselfto properly perform its work.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,Figure 1 is a top view of one of theconpling heads and hose nipples;Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one ofthese improved coupling heads, the locking latch also being illustratedin dotted lines; Fig. 4

is a perspective view of the gasket holder 5,

and Fig.` 5 is a sectional view of the gasket. Similar characters ofreference indicate corresponding parts throughout the different figuresof the drawings.

In that form of steam hose coupling now generally in use the gasket isheld in position by means of a hinged holder or plate, which is lockedin position by a latch or cam, it being necessary, when it is desired toremove side of the holder, this, of course, requiring,

as stated, the removal of the gasket from the inner side of the frame orholder when it is swung open, and 'when these parts do not properly fitor get caught, as sometimes happens, a steam-tight joint is notobtained. Moreover, the means for locking the duplicate coupling headstogether comprises a horizontally swinging latch, and when the carsbecome separated prematurely the disconnection of the steam couplingshas not been possible in the form of coupling referred to withoutbreakage of the parts. By means of the present improvements, however,all of these disadvantages are done away with and the removal of thegasket obtained without the swinging open of the frame, while the gasketalso automatically seats itself in its frame or carrier to always insurea steam-tight fitting of the parts, and should anyof the cars of thetrain become prematurely uncoupled or break away the construction of thecoupling is such that it will be automatically uncoupled withoutbreakage of any of the parts.

In the preferred embodiment of the pres` ent improvement each couplingcomprises a pair of duplicate members or heads, and therefore adescription of one will suflice to give a clear understanding of thisimproved coupling. In a general way each of these heads may be made likethe ordinary coupling head most generally in use, it comprising a bodyor main portion 2 having a flat side 3 provided with a locking lug 4 andhaw'ng at its opposite side a forwardly extending wing 5 provided with alocking flange or rib 6, the flange of one coupler head interlockingwith the lug of its companion coupler head in the usual well knownmanner. The head is also provided with means for the attachment of ahose nipple 7, which may be either formed as a part thereof or, as shownherein, as a separate member attached to such head in any suitablemanner, whereby when the head becomes broken or injured the body thereofonly need be replaced. In the form shown this nipple is screwed into athreaded opening 8, or, as shown in Fig. 2, into a threaded bushing 8 ofthe head and is inclined upward in the usual manner. The' face 9 of thehead carrying the steam passage or opening communicating with the nippleis shown as flat and is suitably formed to receive a gasket holder orframe, which, in the present instance, comprises a member l0 having apair of ears or projections ll each having a rearwardly extending pin l2rojecting into ears 13 carried at the top and ottom of the head. Thisgasket frame 1s provided with an opening 14 of the desired diameter toaccommodate the proper size of gasket, and this opening is cupped. Thegasket has a ball edge, whereby, as will be immediately apparent, thegasket will automatically seat itself when inserted into such opening,

Any suitable means may be used for holding the gasket trame in positionon the tace of the head, but in the present instance l have shown a pairof split keys 1S, which may be suitably connected by chains 19 to theyhead. These keys tit into slots 20 formed in the pins or studs in thegasket trame or carrier and clamp such frame, and thereby the gasket, inposition in an effective manner owing to the inclined formation, as at2l, of the rear walls oi the ears carried by the head and with whichinclined ears the tapered sides oi the split keys engage. Of course,this same result could be obtained in. any other suitable way, as bytapered bolts, which could be threaded bolts tor the reception of nutsit' desired. ilioreover, the pins or studs might in some forms of thecoupling be carried by the head, while the apcrtnred ears be formed onthe gasket frame.

By means ci this improve rient, on the removal of the split keys, itismerely necessary to draw the frame outward away trom the face of thehead, whereby the gasket may be readily removed and a new gasketinserted, thus dispensing with the hinge of t` e gasket frame and theprovision of a pivoted locking cam or device lor holding such frame inposition.

l am aware that it has been attempted to dispense with the use of thehinged frame by securing the gasket in position by means of springs. Bythe present improvement, hoi fever, l am not only able to do away withthe use of a hinged frame, but also with all springs for holding thegasket in position, thus very much simplifying the construction and alsoinsuring that the gasket be properly clamped in position at all timesagainst premature separation, since the attachment and detachment of thegasket carrier or frame is obtained by a shding action of the carriertoward and from the head axially of the steam passage, and this permitsthe gasket carrier to be entirely attached to or detached from the headvery readily.

As hereinbel'ore stated, in the ordinary form of steam coupler new usedit has been the practice to provide a horizontally swinging latch 'forlocking the two couplers together. This latch, however, prevents thecouplers from automatically separating fithout the breakage or" theparts. in the present instance l provide an improved locking device 'forsecu 1ing the heads together, and which consists of a verticallyswinging latch 22 pivoted to an ear on the head by means of a bolt orpivot 24, the latch having vertical play relatively to its pivotalsupport by forming it with an elongated slot 25 to work on said pivot.This latch has a rearwardly extending stud or projection 2G providedwith a tapered or knife-edge `face 27 adapted to engage the groovcdunder face 2S of a spring held member or plunger 2Q carried in anopening 30 of a projection il formed on the head. The upper end of thelatch is provided with an overhanging portion 32 adapted to 'lit overthe upper outer cnd HS of the wing of the companion head when the sameare interlocked in the manner hercinbefore described, the spring-actingdetent or member holding the locking latch down in firm engagement withthe top of such wing. Should, however, the cars become uncoupled orbreak away, the coupling heads will autornalically separate from eachother by fason of the fact that the locking latch will be forced upwardagainst the action of its spring and thus permit the locking ilauffesand lugs to slide one from the other, and his without breakage of any ofthe parts. lFrom the foregoing it will be seen that this improvedlocking latch is movable in two directions, it having a swingingmovement into and out of locking position in a vertical plane and also ashiftable movement, tho latter heilig an automatic one, in a ve ticalplane loper-mit thc automatic uncoupling of thc coupler heads. thespring actuated means preventing the latch from swii'iging whilepermitting the vertical play thereof.

rlhis inniroved cou'l'xling it is to be understood may not only be usedwith steam hose for railroad service, but for other purposes, heilig aswell adapted vfor servico whore air or other fluid is used. Moreover, byforming the gasket holder as cupped and the gasket with a ball cdgc itwill be observed that the gasket will locate itself properly iu itsseat, and by coupling the nipple to the head by means of a nut orbushing as shown in Fig. 2, not only can the nipple bc readily removedwithout the necessity of rotating the heavy head, but it obviates allchance of the parts crowding.

l claim as my invcntirni:

l. A coupler head for steam hose couplings, having a locking latchconnected thereto at one side thereof for swinging movement into anupright locking position at the side of the head or into an unlockingposition outwardly aufay from the head.

2. A coupler head for steam hose couplings, having a locking latchconnected at its lower end to one side of said head for swingingmovement toward and from said hcad.

S. A coupler head for steam hosc couplings, having a locking` latchconnected thereto at one side thereof for swinging H movement in avertical plane toward and from said head, said latch being alsoautomatically shiftable in a vertical plane.

fl. A coupler head for steam hose couplings, having a locking latchconnected at its LlO lower end to one side of said head for swingingmovement toward and from said head, said latch having a slot thereby topermit the automatic shifting of said latch in a vertical plane.

5. A coupler head for steam hose couplings, having a locking latchprovided with an elongated slot adjacent to its lower end and pivotedthrough the medium of said slot to said head for swinging movementtoward and from such head, and spring controlled means for holding saidlatch in its locking position.

6. A coupler head for steam hose couplings, having a locking latchprovided with an elongated slot adjacent to its lower end and pivotedthrough the medium of said slot to said head for swinging movementtoward and from such head, and spring controlled means for holding saidlatch in its locking position, said means comprising a spring pressedplunger and a projecting member carried by said latch in engagement withsaid plunger.

7. A coupler head for steam hose couplings, having a locking latchprovided with an elongated slot adjacent to its lower end and pivotedthrough the medium of said slot to said head for swinging movementtoward and from such head, and spring controlled means for holding saidlatch in its locking position, said means comprising a spring pressedplunger carried by the head and a projecting member carried by saidlatch and having a knife edge adapted to be engaged by said plunger.

8. A coupler head for steam hose couplings, having a locking latchprovided withV an elongated slot adjacent to its lower end and pivotallyconnected through the medium of said slot to said head for Swinginmovement toward and from the head, said latch having at its upper orouter end an overhanging latching portion projecting toward the couplingface of the head, and spring controlled means at the rear of said latchfor maintaining it in its locking position and for ermitting theautomatic shifting of the atch when in its locking position.

9. A coupler head for steam hose couplings, having at one side a wingprovided with a locking lange and at its other side a locking lug, alocking latch pivoted in the rear of and ,below said lug for swingingmovement toward and from the head, and spring controlled means forholding said latch in its locking position, said latch constructed tohave vertical play when in its locking position under the control ofsaid spring controlled means.

10. A coupler head for steam hose couplings, having a steam passage, agasket carrier therefor having a cupped gasket seat, a gasket fittingsaid seat and having a ballformed edge, wedging means for securing saidcarrier to the head and effective to permit the attachment anddetachment of said carrier in a plane coincident with the axis of thepassage, a locking latch pivotally connected to said head for swingingmovement toward and from the head, said latch having an elongated slot,and s ring controlled means for maintaining said atch in its lockingposition and effective to permit, through the medium of the slot,automatic lengthwise play of the latch.

ROBERT S. MACEWAN. Witnesses:

H. G. HAMMETT,

JOHN A. LECKIE.

